The ultra-private Dean died March 3 at age 82, nearly 60 years after he married Parton in 1966

Tish Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus and Dolly Parton.Credit : Francis Specker/CBS via Getty

Billy Ray Cyrus and his ex-wife Tish are both thinking about longtime friend Dolly Parton after the death of her husband, Carl Dean

The “Jolene” singer, 79, shared a statement to Instagram on March 3 to inform fans her spouse of nearly 60 years died earlier that day at age 82, and both Billy Ray and Tish left supportive comments underneath her post.

“Sending you all of my love @dollyparton!” wrote Billy Ray, 63, alongside broken heart and prayer hands emojis.

Meanwhile, Tish, 57, commented, “Love you Dolly .”

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean.Courtesy of Dolly Parton

Parton and Billy Ray have been close friends for decades, having grown close after they toured together in the 1990s while he promoted the hit “Achy Breaky Heart.”

“I was on tour and then Billy toured with me and so that’s how we just got to be good friends, because he’s a Kentucky boy, I’m from Tennessee,” she previously told SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show.

Their tight-knit relationship led to Parton becoming a godmother to Billy Ray and Tish’s superstar daughter, Miley — and last year, the “Coat of Many Colors” artist learned they’re actually related by blood.

Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton.Kevin Mazur/Getty

“Dolly Parton and Miley Cyrus are seventh cousins, once removed! Their common ancestor is John Brickey, born in 1740 in Virginia,” read a statement from Ancestry during Parton’s interview with Access Hollywood.

The company added of Brickey, “He later moved to Blount County, Tennessee with his wife and children and remained there until his death in 1806. The Brickey family originated from France and the family came to the United States in the late 1600s.” [Both Parton and Cyrus are from Tennessee.]

Parton said in reaction, “Is that true? That’s amazing!”

“Well, we’re so close, Miley and I. I would’ve thought we would’ve been at least third cousins, 10 times removed,” she joked.

Dolly Parton and Carl Dean.Dolly Parton/Instagram

Dean, who was notably private throughout his marriage to Parton, died in Nashville, according to Parton’s statement. “He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie,” read the post.

He and Parton tied the knot in 1966. “Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,” her post continued. “The family asks for privacy during this difficult time.”

His cause of death was not immediately announced.

Billy Ray and Tish were married for 30 years before she filed for divorce in April 2022. Together, they share sons Trace, 36, and Braison, 30, and daughters Brandi, 37, Miley, 32, and Noah, 25. (Billy Ray is also dad to son Christopher, 32).